Universal printing process cylinder and method of making the same



Oct 28, 1952 w. c. HuEBNl-:R 2,615,389

UNIVERSAL PRINTING PROCESS C NDER AND METHOD OF' MAKING THE E Filed Aug. e, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 \\\w ff ff 429 IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIHI Patented ct. 28, 1952 UNIVERSAL PRINTING PROCESS CYLINDER AND METHOD F MAKING THE SAME William C. Huebner, -New York, N. Y., assigner to The Huebner Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application Auguste, 194s, serial No. 42,816 21 claims. A(cl. 10i-119) This invention relates to cylindrical printing surfaces and, more particularly, to improved printing cylinders which may be employed to matter which is disclosed, in part, but not claimed in my copending application Serial No. 24,232, filed April 30, 1948, entitled Electrographic Reproduction Processes.

In conventional rotary relief printing presses, the cylindersare usually constructed of .heavy castings. To these cylinders are secured. separate plates corresponding to an entire page of the magazine, newspaper, or the like which is to be printed and as many plates are used as can be economically and practically arranged on the periphery of the cylinder. electrotypes are made from the original photoengraved plates vand these' electrotype platesare then curved, backed by lead, and fastened in place on` the cylinder. In newspaper printing, stereotypes are made from paper molds which are prepared from the original photoengraved plates or metal type'forms and these stereotypes are then secured to the printing cylinders.

In preparing the plates for relief printing, it has been necessary heretofore to rout the photoengraved plates from which the electrotypes or stereotypes are prepared so that the non-printing areas will be deep enough to prevent the ink rollers from inking these blank areas. This isa costly and time-consuming operation.

arate curved plates have 'theirA inking and printing surfaces exactly cylindrical., ofy this latter operation is known as making In addition, orthodox relief presses require that the sep-` For liner quality work k ready, the novel' cylinders being especially adapted for use in presses that print with little or no pressure, such as electronographic presses and the cylinders being also capable of employment in orthodox presses where pressure is utilized.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel cylindrical printing orv coating cylinders and methods of making the same'whereby vthe cylinders are relatively light in weight and inexpensive to construct and which produce improved quality printing or coating at reduced cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved printing cylinder and method of constructing the same in which the entire form comprising the separate pages or work areas to be printed are produced directly upon the survface of the cylinder without the need of preparation of separate plates, electrotypes, and/or stereotypes.

A still further Object of the invention is to provide an improved printing cylinder and method of constructing the same such that the periphery of the cylinder is provided with a novel pei-forato surface upon which the printing and non-printing areas may be directly formed by photographic The effecting l ready and is generally performed by raising low spots or areas with packing to insure uniform inking of the work or printing areas and also towithstand the necessary pressure to effect inkv transfer to the material being printed. Other-- conventional methods of printing likewise require extensive and costly preparation of the printing and/or electroplating procedures.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved printing cylinder and method of making the same as defined in the preceding object and in which uid may be supplied to portions of the surface of the cylinder from the interior thereof at a controlled rate and uniformly distributed to the entire surface ofthe cylinder.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an improvedprinting cylinder and method of making the same wherein the cylinder comprises a perforate shell on which a strip or wire-like member, having protuberances therealong is helically wound with the protuberances on the portion of the strip or wire forming one turn of the helix engaging the planar surfaces of .the strip or wire in the next turn of the helix to thereby provide staggered, elongated, narrow passageways for fluid, the printing and/or nonprinting areas beingdirectly formed on the o-ter surface of the helix.

A'still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved cylinder and method of making the same as defined in the preceding object such that the cylinder may be employed for applying a uniform coating upon strip material when the entire surfaceof said helix is left in uncovered condition.

The invention further resides in certain novel steps of procedure, features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains from the following description of the present preferred embodiment, and certain modifications, described with respect to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters represent corresponding parts in the several views, and in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view` through a printing cylinder constructed in accordance with this invention, the support for onenend` of i the cylinder being removed and av portion intermediate the ends of the cylinder being broken away to reduce the length of the figure;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary View of a section of the side wall of the printing cyl-- inder and of the valve and inner shell associated therewith, the View being taken substantially between the lines A-A" and B-B of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the upper right-hand portion of the cylinder illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end eleva` tional View of a portion of the cylinder, the View being taken from the right-hand side of Fig. 3 and showing a means for effecting adjustment of the valve for controlling flow of fluid through the side wall of the cylinder;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional View similar to Fig. 3 but with the end wall and the helical covering for the cylinder omitted, the figure illustrating a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, plan View of a portion of the periphery of the cylinder illustrated in Fig. 1 before the printing and nonprinting surfaces have been formed thereon, the View being taken approximately as indicated in 6 6 in Fig. 1 and a portion of a helically arranged wire or strip being broken away to reveal the surface of the cylindrical shell thereunder.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, detached, perspective view to a greatly enlarged scale of a portion of the strip orwire which is to be helically wound upon the cylinder;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, detached, plan View to a greatly enlarged scale of a portion of the periphery of the completed cylinder illustrating a printing surface formed thereon adapted to receive ink from inking rolls, the non-printing surfaces being .shown intermediate the printing surfaces, which non-printing surfaces do not take ink from the printing rolls;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the printing and non-printing surfaces reversed, whereby the cylinder may be employed for printing the same pattern as that produced by the cylinder of Fig. 8 by supplying printing fluid from the interior of the cylinder rather than exteriorly by means of inking rolls;

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary, detached sectional View to a greatly enlarged scale illustrating a step in the procedure for constructing printing cylinders in accordance with this invention; and,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, detached, perspective View to a greatly enlarged scale of a modification of the strip material which is wound upon the cylinder.

A printing cylinder, constructed in accordance with this invention, has been illustrated in the drawings in the form which is especially adapted for use in printingmethods employing light or no pressure, for example, such as those known as offset, or' electronographic. It will be understood, however, that the construction of the printing cylinder and the method of producing the same, as hereinaftery described, is the same when forming cylinders suitable for use in relief or other orthodox methods` of printing, the only dierence being that the cylindrical-A shells and other operating parts must have their dimensions sufficiently increased to withstand the pressures ofthe press.

The printing cylinder, embodying the invention as illustrated in the drawings, and generally designated IB, comprises a cylindrical shell II which isl provided. with a plurality of openings or ports I2v of relatively small diameter at spaced pointsabout its periphery, these openings being interconnected, on the outer surface of the shell, by longitudinally extending grooves, such as I3, see Figs. 2, 3, and 6. One end of this shell is removably ksupported upon an end plate or member I4, which, when the cylinder is employed for electronographic printing, is formed of electrical insulating material. If, however, the cylinder be employed for relief or other orthodox methods ofr printing, the member Iii may be formed of metal. Between the shell l I and the member III is interposed a suitable packing I5 to prevent the ow of fluid therebetween.

Connected with the end plate or member IiiA is an annular member I5 which constitutes a bearing support for the endl of the cylinder. More specifically, the central opening of the member I6 is counterbored and has the outer race of an anti-friction bearing Il mounted therein, the inner race of the bearing being supported upon a non-rotatable tubular member I8 adjacent the inner end of the latter. The tubular member I8 is slidably supported, intermediate its ends, in a Isuitable sleeve I9 which is adjustably carried by frame members 20 and 2|. Thus, the sleeve I9 is provided, adjacent its ends, with outwardly extending circular flanges 22 and 23 which overlie the outer surfaces of the frame members 2U and 2I respectively, and are suitably secured thereto in a manner such'that the sleeve I9 and tubular'member I8 may be adjusted within the frame members to bring the cylinder I0 into the desired spaced relationship in the press.

The diameter of the tubular member If is reduced adjacent its outer end and the external surface of this reduced portion is provided with a screw thread cooperating with a nut member 24. The nut 2A is rotatably supported but prevented from longitudinal movement by virtue of Y being provided with an outwardly extending flange portion 25 which is received withinv the annular recess of an internally shouldered member 26 which is secured to the ange 23. Surrounding a portion of the nut 2li is an actuating` memberZi which is secured to the nut for effecting rotation thereof by means of screws 28, the member 21 being provided with radially extending bores 29 in which a bar or the like may be inserted for effecting turning Ythereof.` `It will be readily apparent that rotation of the member 21 and hence of the nut 24 causes the tubular member I8' to move longitudinally relative to which extends coaxially with and in communication with the bore 3| through the tubular memralso providedy ber I8. y The adjacent surfaces of the member provided with cooperating packings 32 and 33 to prevent the leakage of liquid at this point.

The other end of the tubular shell II is supported upon an annularA member 34 and a packing 34a is placed therebetween to prevent the escape of liquid. The member 34 will be of insulating material if the cylinder be employed for electronographic printing, but may be formed of metal when the cylinder is employed for printing by more orthodox methods. The member 34 is in turn connected with an annular member 35 which is connected toy an end member 33, the latter beingprovided on its outer face with a gear 31. This gear cooperates with a driving gear, not

shown, to effectv rotation o f the cylinder and,

if desired, a gear similar to 3'I may be providedv adjacent the other end of the cylinder, as lfor example, on the member I3.

Withinv the annular member 34 is disposed a disk 38"which is'connected to the member 36, the

the cylinder'v and in alignment with the tubular member I8. The member 36. and the tubular shaft 39 may be provided with a suitable antifriction bearing therebetween similar to. that indicatedat I'I, and the shaft 39 has its outer end suitably supported in a framework, not shown. Preferably the portion of the tubular member or shaft 39 inside the cylinder is provided on its exterior withan electrical insulating sleeve or bushing 39a. when the cylinder is to be employed `for electronographic printing so that one of the elements of the electrical eld producing members may be supported thereon.

- The inner end of .the tubular member 3S is received in a cylindrical recess in a disk 40 and the outer side surface of the latter is provided with a cylindrical boss 4I which is received in a cylindrical groove in the adjacent face of the member I4. rlhe cylindrical boss 4I is provided, intermediate the disk 43 and the member I4, with a plurality of openings, such as 42, to provide communication from the bore 3i, through the bore 30, and through the cylindrical boss 4I to the exterior thereof, for a purpose hereinafter described. The diskll and the annular member.

34 support the ends of an inner imperforate cylindrical shell 43 in spaced relation withithe shell II to provide a fluid reservoir or chamber therebetween. Suitable packing, such as 44 and 45, are provided between the shell 43 and the disk 40vand between the shell and the member 34, respectively, to prevent the entrance of liquid into the interior of the shell 43.

Disposed immediately adjacent and slidable upon the inner surface of the shell I I is a cylindrical valve member '46 which is provided with openings 4l. These openings 41 are adapted to be aligned with the openings I2 through the shell II when the valve member is in one position thereof, for example, when the valve member is at its extreme right-hand position as viewed in Fig. 3. The right-hand end of the valve member 46, as viewed in the drawings, is provided with an inwardly directed flange 48 having av threaded opening in which the inner end of an adjusting screw 49 is screwed. The outer end of the adjusting screw extends in sealing relationship. through the members I4 and lI6 and exteriorly of the flatter. kThe outer portion .of

the screw 49 is preferably ofreduced diameter t0 provide a shoulder 5I) which cooperates with f the memberv I6 to prevent endwise movement of the screw to thel right as viewed in Fig. l3; Exteriorly of the member I6 the extending portion of the screw 49 is provided with a means 5I is preferably provided with calibrations 53 which cooperate with a stationary pointer 0r indicium member 54 mounted upon the member I6 to indicate the adjusted Lposition of they valve member.

It will now be readily apparent that vrotation of the knob 5I will cause the screw V49 to thread through the threaded portion of the flange `48, thus moving the cylindrical valve member 46 to dispose the openings 4l therein either in or out of alignment with the openings I2r in the sleeve Hence, the extent of the movement of the valve member determines the size of the passageways provided throughthe valve member and the openings I2 and the `adjusted position Aof the valve member is indicatedby the position of the knob' 53. Consequently, fluid, which issupplied through the bore3I under pressure by any suitable means attached to the outer end of the member IS, flows through the bore 3Q in the member I4 and through the openings 42 of the cylindrical boss 4I, entering the passageway or reservoir between the shells 43 and II vand thence flows through the openings 4l' and I2 to the exterior of the shell II, the rate of flow being controlled by the position of the valve memberji which may be selectivel-yvpositioned to completely terminate the flow, por to place the openings 4'Ivand I2 in alignment, or at any intermediate position therebetween. v y l While a single adjusting screw and manually actuated knob have been shown for effecting adjustment of the valve member 43 it will be apparent that a plurality of adjusting screws may be provided at spaced points about the flange configuration having a relatively small pitchupon the outer surface of the cylindrical shell II. This strip-like member 55 is preferably formed of stainless steel wire or other corrosive resistant metal which has been rolled or otherwise shaped to provide a substantially rectangular configuration with one side planar and the other side provided with a plurality of transversely extending,l longitudinally spaced, protuberances or bosses, such as 53, see'Fig. '7; In winding the strip or `Wire upon the cylinder, a plurality of pins, such as'5I, are mounted on the surface of the cylinder adjacent one end thereof and extending radially outwardly therefrom a distance slightly greater than the height of the strip or wire, thesey pins ybeing disposed in 'a helical path corresponding with the outer surface of the first convolution of the strip-like member. The flat or planar side of the strip-like member A55V is then securedv tothe sides of the pins .'51 by soldering, welding, or the like'and the strip is wound upon the drum with the `protuberances :5.5 `.of one 4convolution labutting the planar-face ,-of the next convolution theprotuberances .56 ,beingso spaced with respect to the circumference of the drum that the :resulting spaces `between adjacent protuberances are A preff turned; or otherwise machined, to a 'true cylin-` drical vsurfaceand theouter Aends of :the pins '.51 are likewise removedby the .grinding so as 'to Vlie within this surface. Theresult :is .a .perforate surface of .true cylindrical Aform having a very greatnumber of staggered elcngatedopeningsa of lextremely'narrow width therethrough which extend atsubstantially. right angles to the axis of the .cylinder andcommunicate .withthe longitudinal grooves :I3 and the'openings `I2 .in 'the shell III. .-Hence, liquidunder pressure Vmay flow through the'latter openings .and grooves and be conducted tothe surface of the cylinder through the Vopeningsa to provide al substantially uniform delivery of liquidto the said surface, the width of the openings '56a between the convolutions of the 'strip-like member being such that the liquid ydoes not flow freely therethrough due to 'the'capillaryaction unless at least slight'pressure is 4applied thereto. 'The'width of the striplike member is also extremely small so that the fluid flowing outwardly from the several elongated openings mcan merge on the outer surface of the cylinder to provide a substantially continuous lm thereover. Strip-'like `members .having a height of about .016 in., a -thicknessof approximately .005 and -protuberances about .0015 in. high producing an overall thickness of about JO-065 in.4 have proved satisfactory in practice, however, strip-like members of any suitable dimension may be Iused, depending upon `the porosityvof the surface desired.

Afcylinder thus constructedmay be used, without further preparation, to `provide a uniform coating of a liquid uponwebor sheet'material passed over the surface of the helix, the'liquid being transferred to the material by any known means but preferably being effected by meansof an electrostatic or Velectromagnetic eld. -When employing an electrostatic i'leld, one electrode thereof ismountedwithin thecylinder on thevin sulating bushing .SSasurrounding theshaft 39. The other electrode is then supported adjacent the outer surface Vof thematerial to be coated so that the Alatter passes between thelatterand the cylinder'I When .the cylinder Iii is'to tbe employed for` printing, :the :outer surface. 'of .the helix `formed by the .wire or'strip-like Amemberfii is provided with a .skinlor hn of copper or lother suitable metal` `which is preferably electrically `deposited to form va continuous, even metal :surface over the `entire outer periphery of -the wireor strip. in ,forming this `thin .layer `or covering over the helix, apowder, .preferablycopper powder moistened with water, `is yrubbed lengthwise of the cylinder to ll in thespaces or elongated openings abetween the ywire near the outer surface of the` helix. v These particles of'ipowdengdesignated 5.8, 'bridge `4`the said elongated o peningsmsee Fig.l l0, so that, when Vthe cylinder` is .thustreated and-placed in an ,electroplating bath, .the copper covering or shell can easily bridge .the gaps .or elongated'openings 56a between .convolutions of the wire .91' strip without .penetrating .tothe ,bottoms thereof, By way of. example, y it .has been found vthat a .suitable covering in the order .of .0.02 in.in thickness Ican .be'accompl'ished in .a period of yfrom 30 minutes to Zhours bylgrflding the-.shellrduring theiplating operation. Preferably a high vcurrent density .is employed during the initial plating operation to obtain a quick, heavy deposit. and the` grinding can.b ecarried. on Vsimultaneously with the plating operation or theplating and grinding canbe alternated. During the final ,plating operation which ispreierably lconducted yat a vreduced current ydensity to produce a line grained deposit, the igrindinggwheel `can be :replaced :by a pOliShing vwheel or disk and .a highly `polished, vsmooth and l even surface thus I produced.

The cylinder is ithen'removed from the electro.- plating` bath -and flushed .clean withr running water and ymay .be further cleaned -by dipping lin acaustic potash solution or the like. '.If thefpotash solution be employedfit may then lbeneutralized by a short interval dip of the cylinder aiweak acid solution `after which the .cylinder is regain flushed .withrunning water.

The copper surface ofthe cylinder .is now provided with a :light-sensitive .coatinggwhih :may be va colloid or preferablyY a cold .top enamel, which is well yknown in the industry,V `After this light sensitive coating 'is applied and dried, ay photographic nlm, ,which 'is Ya .negative .image of .the'material whichiis to beprintedgis applied to the surface andthe composite iS .thenXPOSGd to light. Where .the cylinder. is of :considerable length so thata pluralityofimages mayzbe .fa-pplied thereto, the exposure tothe light mayzbe made Asilmultaneously after `all of the `,negatives have :been applied thereto, or .it may be .made progressively for :the particular 'portionorlspending with agiven negative. .'Afterall the images `have thus ibeen` exposed, :the negative or negatives is .or are .removed and ithe cylinderis rotated Yin a suitable developing solution after whichthe cylinder'is hushed with running Water and thenv immediately dried. The cylinder will now=show the exposedcopper shellinall the nonprinting areas, the image to be -printejdbeing represented .by the light-'hardened surfaces of the colloid or enameljmaterial.

.The image, orprinting surfaces, .after drying, are prepared with suitable resist, such as a greasy etching g ink .and ',powder, 1in order hthat V.the v.cylinder surfacemay be etched to remove vthe exposed non-printing 'portions of 'the copper Shell. This etch maybe effectedzbyafsuitable iron ychloride Ibath in which the A.Jvlinder is .placediorfan interval of, say, from to 20 minutes :after which the Acylinder .may ybe .placed in an .electr plating .bath and the current thereof reversed y:s0 thatithe .balance of 'the exposed .portions of y'the coppershell ,is removed or stripped :by Velectrolytie action with .the -result Tthat all-of the wire orstrip-:55 representing theopen spaces, :or nonprinting portions, -in the image is exposed. Likewi'seany loose particlesof ythe copper'povvdery `58 left between the strands of the wirevor strip -coating remains adhering to the surface of the helix only under the light-hardened image portions 59, see Fig. 8. After washing the cylinder, the light-hardened materialen this remaining copper surface or surfaces is removed in any well-known manner and the non-printing areas, represented by the exposed wire or strip portions, are again coated with a desensitizing etch and then with a gelatinous or equivalent type coating which is light-sensitive. This latter coating is next light-hardened to about 60% of its hardness, thus providing a porous and relatively hard surface in the non-image areas B0.

A cylinder of this type may then be employed for printing in accordance with `the offset or similar methods of printing. For this purpose, water Ior other suitable liquid under pressure is applied to the reservoir or chamber between the shells 43 and l l and this liquid then travels through the openings 41 and vI2 to the openings represented by the elongated slots 56a between the convolutions of the helix. The liquid below the areas covered by the image portions 59 cannot penetrate to the surface due to the copper shell that remains over these portions. The water below the non-image areas, such as 60, will,

however, pass by capillary action through the pores of gelatinous coating in these areas, thus moistening the surface of the coating. Hence,

when the cylinder is put in the press and greasy ink rollers applied, the ink will be transferred to the cylinder only where the image portion or portions exist. The moistened gelatinous or colloid surfaces such as 6D will repel the ink and hence vwill not be inked by the ink rollers.

This type of cylinder may also be employed for direct or relief printing by making the dimensions of the parts suiiiciently great to withstand the forces produced. Consequently, it is no longer necessary to form separate electrotypes or stereotypes as has been done heretofore. Moreover, in utilization of liquid expulsion from within the cylinder, as above described for either relief or offset printing, longer life images will be secured from the gelatin or non-image surfaces because water will moisten the small spaces between the fine grains thereof and keep them y moist so that the ink will be repelled, which is not the case when the conventional water roller system is used for rolling water over the surface of the gelatin portions. Moreover, by the elimination of the necessity for a water roller to moisten the gelatinous non-image areas, sharper, more clearly defined, prints are obtained because the moisture is supplied from within and hence only the gelatinous material is thus moistened, whereas a conventional water roller, acting upon Ithe outer surface of thegelatin, tends to also moisten the adjacent edges of the image areas thus preventing proper pick-up of ink from the ink rollers at such points, with resulting blurring 1 of the print.

printing areas, such a'sl, as. shown in Fig. 9, while the printing areas, such as 62, will not be light-hardened. Hence, vupon developing and washing, the material over the image areas E2 will be removed and expose the copper shell thereunder. The above steps of removing the exposed copper are then repeated as before described and the exposed portions of the wire or strip 55 are thoroughly cleaned and the lighthardened material over the remaining copper areas may be removed. The exposed portions of the wire 55 are, however, not provided with a gelatinous coating but are left exposed.

The cylinder thus prepared is then supplied with an ink or dye solution which is introduced through the bores 3l and 3&3 to the cylindrical reservoir or chamber between the cylindrical pornous of the shens 43 and 1|. This ink or dye then flows through the openings il, l2, the grooves I3, and the elongated openings 56a in the wire or strip covering in the printing areas 62 which have been left exposed. The ink or dye does not, however, come through the non-image areas since the latter are covered by the portions of the copper shell which was not etched away. This ink or dye in the image areas 62 may then be transferred to the print-receiving material in the usual manner of gravure presses or the like.

A cylinder of the type justdescribed is especially useful when printing in accordance with the electronographic method which employs electrostatic or magnetic fields of force kto effect transfer of the ink or dye, from the printing areas such as 62, without pressure between the printing cylinder and the print-receiving material.l When employing this type of printing, the cylinder [El is preferably provided with a suitable electrode which, a's stated above, may be mounted within the cylinder upon the` insulated bushing carried by the shaft 39. A cooperating outer electrode is then provided adjacent the outer surface of the cylinder at the point or area where printing'is to occur,the paper or other print-receivingymaterial running between the surface of the cylinder 'and the` outer electrode, as is now well known in this type of printing.

The cylinders constructed in accordance with this invention may be readily disassembled for purposes of cleaning as will be readily apparent from the previously described construction. If it be desired to screen the liquid before it passes through the minute openings 56a between the convolutions of the strip or wires 55 `in order to prevent particles of solid material which may be present in certain inks or dyes from lodging in the passageways,y a cylindrical screen 63 of fine mesh may beprovided between the shell Il and the valve member 46 as shown in Fig. 5.` This screen also provides a means for further restricting the flow of fluid through the openings, such as M and l2, for any given setting of the valve member, thereby giving a better control of the flow for certain types of liquid. This wirescreen may be carried either by the inner surface ofA take the form of two separate strips wound side-l by-side on the shell El so that the vconvolutions of each strip alternate. Thus, one strip, such4 as 64, may be lsubstantially. rectangular'in cross section withno protuberances while the other strip 65,.m'ay also be substantially rectangular'in cross section. but .this strip is provided with spaced protuberances such as 66 and 6l on both sides. While the protuberances '66 and Bl have been shown as opposite each other it will be apparent that they may be staggered with respect to each other .if desired. Moreover, the convolutions of either the strip 55 or the strips 64 and 65 may' be'made as separate rings and sleeved upon the shell. Y

ItwillY be understood that when use of a given image on the printing cylinder has been completed, the image may be readily removed by simplyplacing the cylinde-r in an electroplating bath and reversing the current. This or any othersuit'able expedient removes the portions of the copper shell which represented the matter being printed. The helix is then cleaned and a new image provided thereon. Thus a cylinder which has been used for offset printing may be subsequently easily prepared for printing in gravure or electronographically, or conversely. Moreover, as mentioned above, by simply employing a cylinderv as herein disclosed with no covering' on the helix, a liquid supplied to the cylinder may be uniformly coated upon a material passed over the surface of the helix.

Various other modications and adaptations will oc'cur to those skilled in the art after having the advantageV of this disclosure. Therefore, the invention is not to be considered as limited to the specific details of apparatus and steps of procedure herein illustrated and described, it being understood'v that the specific disclosures are only indicative of thepresent preferred-embodiments of the invention and are notlto be considered aslimitation of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A cylinder adapted for use in printing or coating a material comprising, a perforated cylindrical shell with closed ends, strip material w'ound'circumferentially around the outer cylind'rical surface of said shellthe said strip material having portions thereof provided with transversely extending protuberances and adjacent convolutions of the strip material abutting each other'v thereby providing a plurality of elongated relatively' narrow openings intermediate each convolution in communication with the perforations` of said shell, an imperforate cylindrical member of lesser diameter than said shell supported interiorly of the latter substantially cqaxially thereof thereby providing an annular liquid chamber intermediate said member and shell," and means to conduct liquid into said chambenjthe. said liquid penetrating to the surface of the wound material through the said narrow openings therein.`

2. A. cylinder as defi-ned in claim 1 and further comprisinga cylindrical valve member. cooperating with the said perforations in said cylindrical shell for controlling the flow of duid therethrough, and means for adjusting said valve member. y

3. A cylinder as Adefined in claim 2 and further comprising a cylindrical screen positioned between said shell and said valve member.

4. Arcylinder adapted for use in printing or coating a material comprising, a cylindrical shell with closed ends and having a plurality of perforations through the cylindrical side wall thereof with certain of said perforations being interconnected by grooves in the outer surface of the side'walLg-an'elongated st-rip of` material havierentiallyY around the outer surface ofv the side wall of'.4 said shell withv the planeof said strip substantially perpendicular tothe surface ofv said shell, adjacent convolutions of said strip being in engagement with the-protuberances in any one convolutionv engaging the adjacent convolution intermediate the regions of theiprotuberances on the latter. convolutionv thereby providing 'a plurality of elongated relatively narrow openingsintermediate each convolution of the stripl incommunication withv the said grooves and perforations, means at the ends of said cylinder for rotatably supporting the latter, ajsecondl cylindricalshell having closed'ends andv anzimpervious side wall disposed within. the inst-mentioned v shell, the diameterV of said second shell being less than that of saidv rst shell` thereby providing an annular 'cham-ber' for'liqui'd therebetween, and means for conducting a. liquid into said annular chamber through .an 'end ofth'e' printing cylinder thereby providing a body of liquid within the nist-mentioned'V cylindrical shell which penetrates to the outer surface'r of vsaid wound strip through vthe narrow'openings' betweenA the convolutions thereof; v

5.. A cylinder asl defined in Yclaim l and further comprising vmeans. to controlthe flow of uid from the said annular chamber through the perforations in the side Wall of the inst-mentioned cylindricalshell. j l y A6; A cylinder as'deined inI claim 5 and inwhich the. means for controlling the ilow of liquid through. the pertorations. of. said. first-mentioned cylindrical vshell comprises a cylindrical valve member s-lidably mounted within the said rst shell` 'and` cooperating with the said perforations, and means for adjusting. said valve member.

"7. Acylinder as dened in claim 6 and further comprising. a cylindrical screen positioned between said shell and said valve4 member..

8.. A printing cylinder comprising, a perforate cylindrical. shell, an. elongated stripv of material Vwoundlcircumferentially around. the outer surface. off said shell, the said strip having transversely extending. protuberances 'longitudinally spaced` alongr substantially the entire length I thereof and the. adjacent convolutions vof said wound strip being in engagement. thereby providing aj plurality of elongated. rrelatively narrow l openingsv intermediate each lconvolution in comthereof ywhicharenot covered byV the said im- 13 plurality of elongated relatively narrow openings intermediate each convolution through which liquid may iiow from the interior of said shell to the outer surface of the wound material, an imperforate member having a diameter less than that of said shell supported interiorly of the lat ter substantially coaxially thereof thereby proupon the said Wound material within thespaces between the boundaries of the imperviousv majterial corresponding to the non-printingareas, whereby the surfaces of said non-printing areas l are moistened by the penetration of liquid from vthe said annular liquid chamberl within `said shell through the said elongated openings and the porous material thereover vthereby preventingv adherence of a printing substance to the faces of said non-printing areas. i

10. A printing cylinder comprising, a periorateV cylindrical shell, an elongated strip of material having one Side substantially planar and the protuberances spaced longitudinally along substantially the entire length of the strip, the said n strip being wound helically uponthe outer surface of said shell with the said planar surface substantially perpendicular tothe surface of the shell and the adjacent convolutions of the said strip in engagement, thereby providing a plurality of elongated relatively narrow openings intermediate each convolution through which liquid may ilow from the interior of said shell tothe outer surface of the helix, an imperforate member having a diameter less than that of saidy shell supported interiorly of the latter substan tially coaxially thereof thereby providing anfan- "nular liquid chamber intermediate said member andshell.` impervious material on the exterior of Said helix identical' in coniiguration with the matter to be reproduced by printing and closing the said elongated openings thereunder, and a porous material disposed upon said helix within the spaces between the boundaries of the impervious material corresponding to the nontively small-dime'nsioned openings through the cylindrical side wall ofthe shell, forming a plurality of spaced grooves in the outersurface cf said shell With each groove interconnecting cer`y tain of the said openingsproviding an elongated strip of material having transversely extending vlongitudinally spaced protuberances therealong, securing one end of said strip to the outer surface of the side wall of said shell adjacent an end of the latter, winding the said strip of material circumferentially about the outer surface of the side Wall of said shell with the plane of the said strip of material substantially perpendicular to the surface of the shell and with the protuberances on any one convolution engaging planar Suf- ^ portions on the adjacent convolution thereby CII forming a plurality of elongated relatively narrow passageways for liquid through the wound strip: and in communication with the said openings and grooves in the side Wall of the shell, securing .the other end of the strip of material to said shell adjacent the other end of the latter, and then removing a portion of the outersuriace Yfof thel Wound' strip in a manner providing a smooth cylindrical surface.

The method of constructing a printing 'cylinder comprising the steps of, providing a shell having a perforate cylindrical side wall, providing strip material having portions thereof pro-v vided vvith transversely extending protuberances, securing 4portions of the said strip material to said shell adjacent an end of the latter, winding the said strip material circumferentially about theouter surface of the sidewall of the shell with adjacent convolutions of the strip materialv in abutment thereby forming a plurality of elongated relatively narrow openings intermediate "the, convolutions in communication with the perv otherside provided with transversely extending f orations of said shell, securing the strip mav'terial' to said shell adjacent the other end of the latter, providing a relatively thin shell of impervious material over the entire surface of the vwound strip material, and removing portions of fthe said impervious shell so` that the remaining portions thereof have a configuration representative'of the matter to be reproduced by printing,

whereby liquid from within the said cylindrical shell can penetrate therefrom and through the elongated openingsinrthe wound strip material 'only' in the areas from which the impervious shell 'has been removed.

Allhe method of constructing a printing cylinder comprising the steps of, providing a ycylindrical: shell, forming a large number of spaced relatively small-dimensioned openings through the side wall ofr the shell, forming a plurality oispaced grooves in the louter surface of said shell with each groove interconnecting certaincf the said openings, providing an elongated strip ofmaterial having transversely extending `longitudinally spaced protuberances therealong,

on any onel convolution engaging planar portions on th adjacent convolution thereby forming a 'plurality of elongated relatively narrow passageways for liquid through the Wound strip and in communication with the said openings in the side wall cf the shell, securing the other end of the stripof material to said shell adjacent the other end'of the latter, removing a portion of the outer surface of the wound strip to provide a smooth cylindrical ,surface, providing a relatively thin shell "of impervious material over the entire surface o the wound strip, and removing portions of the said impervious, shell so that the remaining portions thereof have a configuration representative of the matter to be reproduced by printing, whereby liquid from within the said cylindrical shell can penetrate therefrom and through the elongated openings in the wound strip only in the areas from kwhich the impervious shell has been s removed.

14. The method -as defined in claim 13 and wherein the said impervious material is electroplated upon said Woundstrip and 'ground-and polishedto produce aismooth, thin shell thereon. 15. The method as defined in claim 13 and wherein the' said impervious material iselectroplated upon said wound strip, initially at a high current density to produce a quick, heavy deposit, yand subsequently at a reduced current density to produce 'a iine grained deposit. y

- 16. The method as deiined in claim 13 and wherein the said impervious material is electroplated upon said wound strip, initially ata Vhigh current density to produce a quick, heavy deposit, and Ysubsequently at a reduced current density to produce a i'lne grained deposit, and wherein the 'deposits is ground during the initial plating operation 'and polished during the nnal plating operation -to'obtain agsmooth, even surface. a

`17. The method as dened in claim 13 and whereinjthe said imperviousvmaterial is electrohardened areas of said substance, the said nonlight-hardened areas of said substance `then cylindrical shell having a perforate side wall, providing an elongatedstrip l of material having transversely extending longitudinally spaced protuberances therealongVsecuring one endof said strip to the outer surface of the side Wall oi said shell adjacent an end of the latter, windingv the said strip of material circumferentially aboutthe outer surface of the side wall of said. shellwith the plane of the said strip of materialsubstanl vter, removing a portion of the outersurface of said wound strip to provide a smooth cylindrical y surface, filling the outer ends ofthe said relabeing removed so that portions of the said elec- Y troplated shell are Yexposed and other portions are covered by the light-hardened substance, the vsaid portions of ,'thefimpervious shell which are r'e'moved'bei-ng the portions thereof which are thus exposed. a A

. i8. The method as Ydeined in claim v13 and 'further comprising the step of applying porous :material over said wound strip in the areas from which the said impervious shell has been rerrioved.4

1'9. The method of constructing a printing cylinder comprising the steps of, providing a shell having a perforate cylindrical side wall, providing strip material having portions thereof provided with transversely extending protuberances,

'securing portions of the said strip material to sa-id 4shell adacent an end of the latter, winding the said strip material circumferentially about the outer surface of the side wallof the shell with adjacent convolutions of the strip material in abutment thereby forming a plurality of elongated relatively narrow openings intermediate the convolutions in communication with the vperforations of said shell, securing the strip material to said shell adjacent the other end of reproduced by printing with the cylinder, whereby liquid within the cylinder can penetrate therefrom and through the elongated openings in the wound material only in the areas from which the said thin shell `has been removed.v

, 20. The method of constructingr a printing 'cylinder'comprising the steps of, providing a tively narrow passageways 'in the said wound strip with nely divided material, electroplatin'g a relatively thin shell over the entire 'outer surface .of the wound strip, andthen removing portions of said thin .shell and the. finely divided material under the said removed'` portions in a manner suchthat the'remaining portions of the sai'dthin shell Ahave a configuration representative of the matter to be reproduced by printingl with .the cylinder, whereby liquid withinthe cylindercan penetrate therefrom and through the elongated `openings in the wound strip only in the areas from which 'the said thin shell has been removed.

21. In the method of constructing a printing cylinder, the steps Of providing a cylindrical .shell Ahaving, a perforate sidewall, providing 'the exterior side wall of .said shell with a metallic ymaterial having a large number of small dimension openings therein, lling the outer ends of said openings with nelydivided material, electroplating a relatively 'thin shell of metal over the outer surface of said material and said particles whereby the said thin shell bridges vthesaid perfo'ra'tions therein, and then removing portions of said thin electroplated shell and the said particle thereunder in accordance with the configuration ofthe desired image, whereby the periorations under the removed portionsare available for Vconducting a liquid 'from the interior of said cylindrical shell. i

WILLIAM C. HUEBNER.

Y REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the liile of this patent:

Huebner Apri 26, 1949l without materially penetratingv 

